Academy Awards 2012: Putting Blackface in Context

Given that Hollywood continues to have diversity problem to this day, of course the Billy Crystal blackface scene touched a nerve for many people. It is easier to label the outcry as “too sensitive” than to examine the historical context behind why people might be upset or disturbed. If Chris Rock’s crack about the limited opportunities for actors of color is what’s “questionable,” maybe the New York Times–and Hollywood–needs to take a closer look.